Ball exercises may help older adults stay steady on their feet
NCT ID NCT01547988
First seen Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a 12-week group exercise program using balls and progressively harder balance tasks can improve balance and lower the risk of falls in healthy adults aged 65 and older. Participants do exercises while also performing mental tasks, like reciting a story, to mimic real-life challenges. The goal is to see if this training can make stepping faster and steadier, and improve how well people feel they can move.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a 12-week group-based balance training program using progressively difficult exercises with balls, including dual-task and perturbation exercises
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this program could offer a simple, non-drug way to improve balance and reduce fall risk in older adults.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with 66 participants, and improving balance in healthy older adults is known to be challenging. Results may not apply to everyone.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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